BIBLICALIST
CLOSENew Believers
Lesson 5 of 12. Learn to speak to God with faith, sincerity, thanksgiving, and submission to His will.
05
NEW BELIEVERS
HOW DO I PRAY?
Prayer is fellowship with God. Prayer is not a religious performance. Prayer is speaking to God with a sincere heart. For the believer, prayer is part of fellowship with the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ. You do not need empty phrases or impressive words. You need honesty, faith, and submission to God.
Prayer is not the Saviour.
A prayer does not save by itself. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Saviour. A person is saved by grace through faith in Christ. After salvation, prayer becomes part of the believer’s walk with God. Do not trust a prayer as your foundation. Trust Christ and believe what God said.
Come to the Father through Christ. The believer does not approach God by personal merit. We come through the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the mediator between God and men. Prayer is not based on how worthy we feel, but on the access God has given through His Son.
Do not pray empty repetitions.
The Lord warned against vain repetitions. Prayer is not made stronger by repeating words without the heart. God is not impressed by religious noise. Speak to Him truthfully, reverently, and simply.
Bring your requests to God. God invites His people to bring their burdens and requests to Him. Prayer should include thanksgiving, not only asking. A thankful heart remembers that God is good even before the answer comes.
A simple way to begin praying. You do not need a complicated formula to pray. Begin with simple, honest prayer. Speak to God about who He is, what He has done, what you need, where you have failed, and whom you are praying for.
Honor Him for who He is.
Remember His mercy, salvation, provision, and help.
Be honest with God when your walk needs correction.
Bring your needs, burdens, wisdom, and growth before Him.
Remember family, church, souls, leaders, and those in need.
Be honest with God about sin. Confession is not getting saved again. The believer’s relationship in Christ is settled. But sin can affect fellowship, joy, and obedience. When God shows you sin, confess it honestly and return to walking with Him.
Pray according to God’s will. Prayer is not forcing God to do what we want. Prayer should bring our hearts under God’s will. We can ask boldly, but we must also trust the wisdom of God when His answer is different from what we expected.
Keep your heart turned toward God. The Bible tells believers to pray without ceasing. This does not mean repeating words every second. It means living with a heart that depends on God, speaks to Him, and turns to Him throughout the day.
What should I remember about prayer? Prayer should be grounded in Scripture, not superstition. The believer prays because God commands it, God hears, and God gives grace according to His will.
Prayer is fellowship with God, not a performance.
Prayer does not replace faith in Christ.
Prayer should be sincere, not vain repetition.
Prayer should include thanksgiving and confession.
Prayer should submit to the will of God.
What if God does not answer immediately?
God is not late, and He is not careless. Sometimes God answers quickly. Sometimes He teaches us to wait. Sometimes He gives what is better instead of what we first asked. The believer should keep praying and keep trusting God.
Begin with a simple daily prayer. Start simply. Thank God for saving you. Ask Him to help you understand His Word. Confess anything He shows you. Ask for wisdom, strength, and growth. Pray for someone else. Then keep doing it daily.
1. Is prayer the Saviour, or is Christ the Saviour?
2. According to Hebrews 4:16, where may the believer come for mercy and grace?
3. What did Jesus warn against in Matthew 6:7?
4. According to Philippians 4:6, what should be included with prayer and supplication?
5. Should prayer submit to our will or to God’s will?